People ask me what is my secret and my beauty routine, especially since I am 62 and have soft, smooth skin and I’m in excellent health. When my dear friend Celeste asked me to write about it, I promised her that I would.

What’s my secret?

1. A healthy plant-based lifestyle. This is # 1 because what we eat will affect our health and appearance. A plant-based life-style is beneficial for our skin, eyes and hair.

2. Keeping active. I get plenty of exercise dancing every day and I lift weights for my arms, just to keep toned. I also enjoy walking and biking. I’m a certified fitness instructor.

3. Staying out of the sun. I’m a shade-seeker. I wear a hat if I’m in the sunshine for more than 15 minutes.

4. No smoking. Smoking is not only unhealthy for our lungs but also damaging for our heart and SKIN.

5. Beauty sleep. I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, they don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing.

6. I have never washed my face with soap: just water and a face cloth.

But what cream or lotion do I use? This is the question I am asked.

7. I am a third generation user of NIVEA. My mom (and dad) used NIVEA and I grew up with NIVEA. I even bought a blue VW Beetle in 2000 which I call Nivea Blue.

Look who’s in the back seat … this is my favourite photo!

I love NIVEA because they do not test on animals and that is very important to me. No animal should suffer for vanity or fashion.

I took an aesthetics course because my mom was a certified cosmetician and aesthetician (which included hairdressing in Germany). She opened her own beauty salon when we moved to Canada. No wonder she chose NIVEA.

26 Responses to Seven Secrets

Hi Carmen, love the Beetle!!
I don’t use soap on my face either. Never used much makeup either. you are so gorgeous!
And vitality radiates from you!
I’m not total vegetarian, but I’ve started eating much more plant food! I feel better, and healthier, and am losing weight.
I went to LittleSAge from you, then here from LittleSAge!

Congratulations on the 200th post. My wife has a ritual as well, and she is placing me on a moisturizing ritual also. Lol. What we eat does impact the surface, and a lack of exercise, does impact the inside as well as the outside

I can’t believe that you are 62, as you look very younger!! Your have a healty style of life and that surely helps…
I am glad to know that Nivea doesn’t test on animals! I love the blue round package! So classic…

Hello! I was on a trip last week, only now catching up. I need a tub of Nivea! J/K My mom is in her 70s and she has pretty nice skin. I totally believe in those factors you list, and also abide by them. I think you look wonderful, attitude, outlook, less stress also I think play a role.

Thanks, Carmen, for valid, solid information…..one would think you are a scientist! Jean’s supplementary “#8” complements your 7 secrets very nicely.
I used Nivea Soft, particularly for the face, for years until I had a skin reaction. Perhaps, I would now tolerate it again. Does Nivea have a fragrance free product?
A largely plant based diet has not noticeably lessened my skin problems.
Terrific photos, particularly of the Beetle.

A wonderful post! And Nivea was my favorite face cream in that flat tin all through junior high and highschool. I loved it and really have forgotten how much I loved it until I saw this post. Thanks for the reminder!
If your diet is plant based does that mean you only eat plants? Vegies, etc,,?? Or just try to include most of your diet along those guidelines?

That is so good to see your tips, which I am happy to say I am following too. I do need to improve a bit more on the diet though. the rest I do too. I love my 8 hours sleep and I do love your beetle. My mum used to use Nivea a lot and I do here now too, but not only. I do love the smell of it too!
Oh and I am proud to say I did yesterday my Gold bar 2 exam in Tap and Gold bar 1 in Street dance, I loved it. Now we will practice for a performance for next year! It’ll be fun!

Hey Carmen! Thank you so much for writing this post for me – you’re such a sweetheart! I have to tell you that a plant-based diet is indeed an amazing beauty secret. Both my husband and I had issues with acne and rosacea before going plant-based and now we both have clear, lovely skin. Now when I see people with acne I want to tell them they should adopt a plant-based diet (I don’t only because I know this would be rude and they would likely not listen to me anyway). Your other tips are great too. I used to lift weights, but I’m not in the habit anymore. That is something I plan to get back to – thanks for reminding me of the importance of that. And Nivea? I don’t use Nivea, but I’m gonna start. I’m so glad to hear that they don’t test on animals. Wonderful post chica – thanks so much! Hugs, Celeste 🙂

You are so welcome my dear Celeste, it’s something I’ve been planning to do ever since you asked. I know what you mean about wanting to help people, when you discover something so GOOD, you want to share it, but it can be misunderstood.

The secret is out! Great tips. I agree with all of them. Especially the plant-based one. We are what we eat! An additional bonus to eating plants and not using cosmetics tested on animals or wearing animals is the peace of mind that comes along with it. That peace translates to the expression on your face, the stress levels you have (or don’t have), and the restfulness you experience at night.

Peace … (the opposite of stress, which is not healthy and ages us prematurely)

A vegan lifestyle gives us a peace in knowing we are not contributing to cruelty. There’s enough suffering in the world that I can’t help, but this is something I can easily do three times a day to make a difference, and it keeps my body healthy too.